Electrical pin board



April 9, 1963 G. c. sl'rz ELECTRICAL PIN BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1959 w mi 2.3M.. m.. l`

INVENTOR. G'z'ber C5112 MIM@ April 9, 1963 G. c. slTz 3,085,220

ELECTRICAL PIN BOARD Filed June 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIW+ W April 9, 1963 G. c. slTz ELECTRICAL PIN BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 29, 1959 l lll oooooomwoo O `O30 O" O 3,085,220 ELECTRICAL PIN BOARD Gilbert C. Sitz, Harrisburg, Pa., assigner to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed June 29, 1959, Ser. No. 823,537 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-18) This invention relates to electrical pin boards to be used as the control -panel in signal and switching systems and the like.

In common practice, the cont-rol circuits of electrical systems, such as in accounting, computing or simply switching devices, are brought to a control panel which includes a plug contact arrangement for cross-connecting or closing the circuits as desired. Typically, the contact elements of the control panel to which the control circuit leads are to be attached are pre-set in a permanent arrangement in a unit of xed proportions. The electrical systems iield, however, is multiplying in variety and complexity, and even in established systems, the need for redesign and rearrangement is frequently encountered.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a universal electric-a1 control or pin board easily constructable or rearrangeable to meet any conditions of use.

Another object is to provide a pin board arrangement wherein the contact elements may ybe releasably insertable in any desired circuit arrangement independent of and subsequent to the construction of the supporting or housing device therefor. Further, an objective is to design the housing of modular construction for increased Iflexibility.

A lfurther object is to provide a pin board arrangement of sim-ple and durable construction with the component parts being easily replaceable when damaged.

Other objects la-nd attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments lare not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is -a perspective view of an embodiment of a pin board according to the present invention, certain parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the rear of the pin board;

FIGURE 5 is a s-ide elevation of the pin board as shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective View of a contact element insertable in the pin board;

FIGURE 7 is a plan View of an alternative embodiment of a pin board structure in accordance with the invention with lcertain parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of one form the wiring pattern of the pin board m-ay take.

With reference to FIGURES l to 6, the various control circuit leads 2 and 4 of an electrical system `are brought to the rear face 6 of pin board 8, the yfront face 10 of Mice which provides :an array of apertures 12 for selectively receiving .any number of pins or plugs 14 to interconnect leads 2 and 4 in the -desired circuitpattern.

`In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, pin board S comprises a plurality lof elongated blocks or modules 16, preferably molded from any suitable insulating material, disposed side-by-Side and -detachably fastened to front plate .18, also of suitable electrical quality plastic material, in Iany convenient manner. For example, blocks 16 maybe provided at their ends with projecting lugs 20 having bolt holes 22 therethrough in registry with -bolt holes 24 of front plate 18, nut and bolt arrangement 26 securing the parts together. To enhance the mechanical rigidity where a large number of blocks are used, all -but the endmost lblocks preferably are fastened to a pair of metal supporting bars or rails 28, as by screws 30 extending through lug holes 24 and into threaded holes 32 of the bars, the end holes of which also passing bolt 26 there-by attaching bars 28 to plate 18.

Through each block 16 there extends a Idouble row of gener-ally rectangular passageways 34, 36 disposed so that each passageway 34 in one row is paired with an opposed passageway 36 in the other row, the passageways bein-g mutually parallel and disposed to extend transversely of front plate 18. A rectangular groove or slot 3S extending approximately half-way through the block from its front surface, asbest shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and running :between the rows and intersecting the passageways to define four approximately equally spaced edges 40, provides a communi-eating opening between each passageway pair. Edges 40, together with a registered one of .apertures A12 of plate 18 and a pair of opposed metallic contact lingers 42 and 44 projecting into slot 38 and depending from contact inserts 46 and 48 received in passageways 34 and 36 respectively, define in effect a socket 50 vadapted to receive a contact pin 114 in shortcircuiting engagement with fingers 42 and 44. The bottom 52 of slot 38 advantageously provides a stop for the socket in limitation of pin insertion.

Apertures 12 thus are arrayed in rows in registry with slot 38 and centered relative to the associated set of spaced edges 40 which advantageously closely correspond in position to points on the periphery of aperture 12.

Edges 40, where pins 1'4 and apertures 12 are circular in cross-section but differ-ing in diameter to the extent required for tolerance purposes and ease of pin insertion, may thus serve `as elongated bearing surfaces severely limiting pin wobble while assuring -that opposed segments of the pin enter the passageways, FIGURE 3, forcefully to depress contact fingers 42 and 44 as will be explained. In this connection, edges 40 may closely approach the spacing necessary for snugly receiving pin 14 by virtue of the prealigning action of aperture 12.

Pins 14' preferably comprise a metallic cylinder having a sleeve or coating 54 of suitable insulating material covering at least that portion to be gripped during manipulation and left projecting from the pin board after insertion.

Turning now to FIGURE 6, there is shown one form the contact inserts may take although it will be understood that any contact arrangement, preferably releasably `set in the .hou-sing blocks 16, which achieves reliable electrical continuity upon insertion of a pin will suice. Advantageously, the contact inserts of each opposed pair are of similar construction and capable of being mass-produced by conventional stamping techniques. Thus the contact generally designated at 56, is formed from a suitable sheet met-al stock, such as a tin or gold-plated brass of spring quali-ty, and comprises an elongated, generally rectangular -base or shank portion 58 from the forward Y end of which extends a longitudinally bowed leaf spring reversely bent back upon but angled away from base 58 and terminating in a shoe 62. Portion 64 extending from the other end of base 58 provides the means by which the lead wires 2 and 4 are connected to insert 56, and advantageously comprises .a pair of opposed ears arranged to be crimped onto the bared end of a lead wire in a manner described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 2,600,012 issued June il0, 1952, to I ames C. Macy. An` additional pair of ears 66 may similarly embrace an insulated portion n of a lead wire for further support as desired. It will be -noted that one or more lead wires, two such being shown in FIGURE 6, may be connected in the connecting portion 64 of any given contact insert according to its function` and .position in the wiring arrangement at the rear face 6 of the pin board.

Insert 56 is slidably receivable in either one of the passageway pair 34 or 36 from rear face 6 until side stop wings 68 projecting outwardly from between ears 64 and 66 abut a rearwardly facing stopI shoulder 70 in the passageway as best shown in FIGURE 2. Coincidently, a resilient tang 72 struck down from base 5S snaps behind a forwardly fac-ing passageway stop shoulder 74, a channel '76 leading from the `front surface 78 of ythe block affording yaccess by a thin blade, not shown, [for prying tang 72 out of engagement from stop 74 when it is desired to withdraw -t-he insert from the block. A pair of side flanges 80l on base 58 closely titted in height and width to side channels 82 on the passageways assure an accurate `and stable location of leaf spring 60 while providing strengthening ribs for the insert.

As alluded to above, leaf spring 60 is biased away from base 58 and arranged so that when the pair of inserts 46 and 48 are .set in passageways 34'y and 36, contact ngers 42 and 44 normally project, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 2, from opposite sides into-slot 38 with a spring bias suflicient to -achieve good contact pressure with a pin 14 slid therebetween, the iingers being resiliently depressed .against the 4spring bias by the pin in operation as shown. Shoes 62, however, are positioned, FIGURE 2, to engage the opposed sidewalls of the passageways positivelyto prevent the opposed lingers from contacting each other when the pin is withdrawn.`

The effect of short-circuiting any one ofthe multiplicity of contact pairs by insertion of a pin will depend, of course, on the wiring pattern of leads 2 .and 4 in accordance with the conditions of a particular use which m-ay range from simply a need for a system of separate switches for -selectively shorting a llike number of pairs of leads to the well-known cross-connectingor grid network system, or any combination or adaptation of either, or both. By way of example, in FIGURE 4 a grid system is indicated. As such, all of the contact inserts 46 in the column of passageways 3'4, the left-hand column in FIGURE 4, in each block are wired in common by jumper wires 84a, v84h, etc. to constitute the various vertical lines of the grid which connect with leads 4a, 4b, etc. respectively. The horizontal or cross lines of the grid are formed by jumper wires 86a, 86h, etc., each of whichconnect in common a given insert 4S in the right-hand column` of passageways 36 of one block with yall the corresponding inserts of the other blocks, ultimately [to connect with leads 2a, 2b, etc. respectively. Approximately placed pins 14 thus serve toconnect any of leads 2 selectively with any one or more of leads 4. h

rl`wo or more pins may be connected, as shown in FIG- URE 1, by jumper wire 87, or may be the terminal of external leads 87a for increased llexibility in the system.

It will be appreciated -that the pin board may easily be constructed to accommodate any desired number of switch points or cross-connecting leads as desired. For example, additional Ileads for a grid system are obtained by'providing extra block fastening positions, `vertically and horizontally, on plate 18, or by arranging two or more unitary pin boards side-by-side.

In an alternative embodiment, FIGURES 7 and 8, the

klive vertical lines.

built-up modular construction is achieved by cementing, with a suitable adhesive for the plastic material involved, a series of blocks 88 in side-by-side, and if desired, in end-to-end relation, blocks 88 being similar to blocks 16 except that lugs 20 are absent for size reduction. Blocks 88 may then be cemented directly to apertured fron-t plate 90. Preferably, however, the blocks are :first cemented to `an intermediate insulating plate 92 which is then detachably secured to front plate 90, as .by bolts 94, to the end that upon removal of ront plate 90, access rnay be had into the front of the Contact insert passageways, through elongated slots 96 in plate 92, for releasing tangs 72 when desired.

`FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view for illustrating the versatility of the pin board. In the ligure, only the block segment 98, indicated by dotted lines, is wired in the grid network pattern `as described in connection with FIGURE 4, there being five horizontal lines crossed with The next adjacent iive vertical apertures, indicated by the `dotted line block E100, have `a wiring connection as shown with `only the five horizontal lines respectively of the grid and constitute horizont-al pilot apertures for the grid. Similarly, the live apertures included within block 1012 are wired only to the vertical lines of the grid and are the vertical pilot apertures. The remaining apertures have no inter-aperture wiring connection at the back face of the pin board, but one of the associated contact inserts in each such aperture is utilized to terminate an input for output lead to be connected with the grid system similar 'to leads 2 and 4, FIGURE 4.

As thus wired, Iany ve input leads may be connected to any iive output leads by jumpers from the input and output apertures to the appropriate pilot apertures with proper pins in the grid segment 98. For example, input lead 104, terminated by a contact insert in aperture 106, and outpu't lead 168, terminated by a contact insert in aperture 11), are shown connected by jumper 112 pinned to aperture 106 and horizontal pilot aperture 114 and thus to horizontal line 116, jumper 11S pinned to aperture 110 and vertical pilot aperture 1'20 and thus to vertical line 122, the connection being completed by insertion of pin 124 at the appropriate grid cross-over aperture.

I claim:

l. An electrical pin board comprising `a plurality of pairs of electric-al contacts, the contacts of each pair pro- Niding la pair of spaced lopposed spring elements for slidvably receiving therebetween a pin to short-circuit the contact pair, insulating housing means having a front and `a rear face and a plurality of pairs of parallel passageways arranged in rows and columns extending inwardly Uthereof'from said'rear face, said contacts having detent means accessible from said front face releasably cooperating with shoulder means on said housing means for securing said contacts in said piassageways, each passageway pair having an opening therebetween extending to said front face and into which said opposed spring elements project, said opening being dened by housing wall portions providing four elongated approximately requally spaced bearing edges disposed to iguide a pin between the associated spring element pair, each contact having lead wire engaging means accessible from said rear face.

2. An electrical pin board comprising a plurality of elongated insulating blocks, means including an insulating plate securing said blocks side-by-side in a unit, each block carrying a column of opposed pairs of electrically spaced contact elements, the contact elements being individually engaged in the blocks in a snap-t, said plate having a plurality of pin guiding apertures each in registry with a contact element pair for guiding a pin into short-circuiting rel-ation therewith, said contact element pairs being arranged in rows and columns with at least a section thereof 4having one of the contact elements of each pair connected in common by rows and the other contact element of the pairs connected in common by columns to provide a grid network, the remaining contact element pairs having means for selectively connecting the contact elements thereof to any other `Contact element of the pin board.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 377,237 Cole Jan. 31, y1888 840,537 Weir Ian. 8, 1907 1,946,889 Wessel Feb. 13, 1934 2,286,812 Keefe .Tune 16, 1942 2,391,324 Martin Dee. 18, 1945 2,425,670 Buell Allg. 12, 1947 2,435,136 Gardenhour Jan. 27, 1948 6 Koenig Aug. 3, 1948 Martin May 2, 1950 Squires Feb. 3, 1953 Dewey et al. July 28, 1953 Benham et al. Aug. 31, 1954 Ritter Apr. 1, 1958 Mason Apr. 14, 1959 Hoberg et al Jan. 19, 1960 Boss et zal. Mar. 1, 1960 FOX May 3, 1960 Krehbiel May 24, 1960 Schultz Sept. 19, 1961 

2. AN ELECTRICAL PIN BOARD COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED INSULATING BLOCKS, MEANS INCLUDING AN INSULATING PLATE SECURING SAID BLOCKS SIDE-BY-SIDE IN A UNIT, EACH BLOCK CARRYING A COLUMN OF OPPOSED PAIRS OF ELECTRICALLY SPACED CONTACT ELEMENTS, THE CONTACT ELEMENTS BEING INDIVIDUALLY ENGAGED IN THE BLOCKS IN A SNAP-FIT, SAID PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF PIN GUIDING APERTURES EACH IN REGISTRY WITH A CONTACT ELEMENT PAIR FOR GUIDING A PIN INTO SHORT-CIRCUITING RELATION THEREWITH, SAID CONTACT ELEMENT PAIRS BEING 